Malaysia Ban Cartoons

Malaysia has banned three works of political cartoons that criticise the government, claiming that they pose a security threat.

Mahmood Adam, the home ministry's secretary-general, explained: "All three publications have been banned for their contents that can influence the people to revolt against the leaders and government policies... The contents are not suitable and detrimental to public order."

The works are mainly collections of comics by Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, known as Zunar, and other local cartoonists, questioning current events, such as police shootings and the sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Two books are banned, Perak, Land of Cartoons and 1 Funny Malaysia, and one magazine, Issues in Cartoons.

Zunar, a cartoonist for more than 20 years, told an AP reporter: "In Malaysia the government... won't allow alternative views. You can do cartoons, you can do whatever art work you want, but it must be in line with the government (view)."

Last month, Malaysian authorities seized more than 6,000 copies of a pro-opposition newspaper, saying it did not have a printing permit. All publications require government-approved annual licences. Zunar's website: http://www.cartoonkafe.com/

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia banned three works of political cartoons that criticize the government, but one of the artists said Friday he was obligated to highlight issues other cartoonists would not.

The government said the cartoons in two books and a magazine posed a security threat.

Malaysia has banned dozens of publications in recent years, but usually because of sexual content or alleged misrepresentation of Islam, its official religion. But the latest ban is certain to spark complaints that the government is disallowing critical views.

"All three publications have been banned for their contents that can influence the people to revolt against the leaders and government policies," said a statement by Home Ministry Secretary General Mahmood Adam on the official news agency Bernama. "The contents are not suitable and detrimental to public order," he said without elaborating.

The works are mainly collections of comics by Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, known as Zunar, and other local cartoonists, questioning current events, such as police shootings and the sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The books, titled "Perak, Land of Cartoons" in Malay and "1 Funny Malaysia," were published late last year. The magazine, "Issues in Cartoons" in Malay, with a circulation of 15,000 copies, was launched in February with three volumes coming out since then, Zunar said.

Independent online news portal Malaysiakini, which publishes "1 Funny Malaysia," said it would file a court case to challenge the ban of its book. Its chief executive officer, Premesh Chandran, said the book was a compilation of cartoons already published on Malaysiakini's website.

"It's peculiar that the book is banned ... as so far there is no evidence of public disturbance stemming from these cartoons," he told The Associated Press.

Cartoonist Zunar, who has published the other two works, told the AP he was still waiting for an official letter from the ministry but vowed not to stop drawing

----------------------- “I WILL NOT STOP DRAWING TILL THE LAST DROP OF MY PEN.” (Press statement by Zunar on book ban)

At press time, I have yet to receive the official letter from Ministry of Home Affairs on the ban on my books.Based on the news report on Malaysiakini (24 June 2010), Ministry of Home Affairs quoted saying that three of my publication were banned, namely “1Funny Malaysia”, “Perak Darul Kartun” and “Isu Dalam Kartun (IDK)”.

“1Funny Malaysia” is a collection of my published work from the year 2005 until 2009, in Cartoonkini on a popular web-based news portal, Malaysiakini."Perak Darul Kartun" is a book published by my own company Sepakat Efektif Sdn Bhd.

"Isu Dalam Kartun (IDK)" is a monthly magazine with a publishing permit from Ministry of Home Affairs. Three issues have been published; vol1, vol2 and vol3.

Last year, another mangazine of mine “Gedung Kartun” was confiscated and banned. According to the latest statement from Ministry of Home Affairs, all six of my publication, as well as my team of cartoonist, are listed in the “Prohibited Publication” list.

In the Malaysiakini report, Head of Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Madmood Adam quoted stating these books are banned because they are not suitable for reading by the public.

All three publications will put in the “Prohibited Publication” list due to content that will influence public perception on country’s leadership and government policies. They are not suitable for reading by the public and may jeopardize public order.

Zunar’s Statement:

1. The government / Ministry of Home Affairs accused my cartoons that the content will influence public perception against on country’s leadership and government policies. Thus, they not suitable for reading by the public and may jeopardize public order. This is a serious accusation and must be supported by strong reasoning and proof.

2. With this ban of the six publication, it also means that all 312 cartoons and the whole team of cartoonist are being banned as well.

3. I demand Ministry of Home Affairs to explain the definition of “content will influence public perception against on country’s leadership and government policies. Thus, they not suitable for reading by the public and may jeopardize public order.”

4. I demand Ministry of Home Affairs to identify which cartoon of the 312 cartoons is categorized as “a threat to national security and not suitable for reading by the public”. I am responsible of all my cartoons and willing to face law if I break any of them.

5. From the business perspective, this action by Ministry of Home Affairs had cause considerably large amount of losses to my company. It is estimated amount of loss may climb to RM50,000 to RM80,000 with the returning of the publications from the vendors.

6. I would like to stress that material gains is not my objective. As a cartoonist, it is my social responsibility to expose the truth; the lies and corruption by the BN government. Saidina Ali once said, “Telling the truth to the tyrant leader is the real patriot”.

7. The government can ban my books. They government can ban my magazine. But the government cannot ban my mind. “I WILL NOT STOP DRAWING TILL THE LAST DROP OF MY PEN.”Zunar

(Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque)Kartunis/Editor kartunzunar49@gmail.com03 22724045Publications are available for purchase online at www.cartoonkafe.com or by calling the hotline at 03-2272 4045.